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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447042031706 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- unitednationsdebtdept2012@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.James Scott" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitednationsdebtdept2012@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 21:09:27 +0800
Subject: CONFIRM CHANGE OF YOUR ACCOUNT 10 / 5 / 2014
A power of attorney was forwarded to my office this morning by two gentle men , one of them is a UNITED STATE national and he is ENGR . GILBERT M. EDWARD by name.
This gentle man claimed to be the representative of your company, and this power of attorney stated that you are dead. They brought an account to replace your account information, to claimed your fund Which is now lying Dormant and Unclaimed.
Below is the new account they submitted to my office:
H.S.B.C BANK OF AMERICA.
ACCOUNT NO. 2984-0008-66
SWIFT CODE. BOPIPHMM
Be further informed that this power of attorney also stated that you suffered and died of a throat cancer,You are therefore given 48hrs to confirm the truth in this information if you are still alive.
Be informed that any further delay from your side could be dangerous, as we would not be held responsible of wrong payment.
NOW IF YOU ARE ALIVE LET ME HEAR FROM YOU VERY URGENTLY TO AVOID YOU LOSING YOUR FUND .
AM WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY ONCE YOU RECEIVED THIS MAIL .
Yours faithfully.
Mr.James Scott
Un Office of Legal Affairs Security and Investigation
London-uk
Private Phone:+44 7042031706
Get Back to us through this Private Email:unitednationsdebtdept2012@yahoo.co.jp
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